TDragger wrote: "I'm on the Virago forum and you'd think they were awful yet the Virago has a steller reputation for reliability. You can't kill them."
While I was laying up overnight in Big Timber, MT a couple of days ago there was a Yamaha Venture, a Harley and a 27 year old 1000 cc Virago (1984)...I was really surprised to see it and talked with it's owner for about 10 minutes (as I had a 1986 1100 cc Virago...way back when (in 1987). He had just returned from a visit to Alaska and was on his way back to Iowa. Pretty impressive ride...7,000 miles so far...I wished him good luck on the rest of his trip.
As for the Rocket...as a lot have noted already the problems are going to get highlighted a lot more than the "good times". I had the two problems (oil leak from an oil line leak from the oil tank during the Nashville trip in 07, and the ignition switch) but other than that my bike rode like a champ and I had no worries when I went on my 08 Daytona, Florida / Key West, FL to Molino trip.
There are some that you wish that Triumph would directly address (ignition switch and wimpy horn) but overall the bike runs good and Triumph has "usually" addressed other problems, even out of warranty above and beyond, for the most part, what most other makes would not cover.
But I completely understand those who have reached the point of "losing faith" in their ride as it is a personal thing you have got to have confidence and sometimes if your particular bike is letting you down...it is understandable the disappointment that is sometimes expressed here.
But as others have also said...Triumph does not corner the market in this area...all makes have their problems and all will show up on their particular forums.
Dennis
Now in Tacoma, WA.